Dirt ingress behind wheel arches

[BuzzardBiker]

Do any E85/E86 members do anything to help keep crud/muck from getting behind the wheel arches and onto the back of the lights/other components.

I can see under the bonnet that some dirt that has got past the arch covers so I assume it’s on the back of the light connections etc.
I know access is needed to the lights but I wondered if there was something like a gasket or similar to help matters.

Other than avoiding mucky roads (impossible in the UK winter months) or regular cleaning I can’t think of anything else.

 

[Herc34es]

Do you have pictures of the arches? I remember seeing a similar issue due to the arch cover having a gap and allowing dirt and grime to go through. I do have good arch covers (it seems so far), but some dirt in the lower part has made its way (especially in the lower bumper part). I manually cleaned quite a lot.

 

[3002 tii]

Do any E85/E86 members do anything to help keep crud/muck from getting behind the wheel arches and onto the back of the lights/other components.

I can see under the bonnet that some dirt that has got past the arch covers so I assume it’s on the back of the light connections etc.
I know access is needed to the lights but I wondered if there was something like a gasket or similar to help matters.

Other than avoiding mucky roads (impossible in the UK winter months) or regular cleaning I can’t think of anything else.

Sounds like either your wheel liners or engine splash is not fully intact. Else I don’t see how mud can get behind there.

 

[STC_Zed]

I think it’s normal. Every BMW I’ve had seems to end up with mud, salt etc getting above the arches liners. It’s a prime cause of arches rotting.

I know just whip them out in the spring to clean the crud out behind them.